Midsomer Murders detective opens up on decision to step away from role

Midsomer Murders star Daniel Casey has opened up about his decision to leave the ITV series. Daniel and John Nettles were co-stars on the show from its inception in 1996 until Daniel left in 2003.

During a recent appearance on BBC Breakfast, Daniel discussed his decision to leave, admitting it wasn't a hard decision.

Host Sarah Campbell questioned Daniel about his departure from Midsomer Murders and whether it was a "difficult decision".

"It was fairly easy, actually," the actor explained before adding, "I started when I was 24, and left when I was 30. Funnily enough, I was thinking about it, and I was watching a rugby match, and there was commentary.

"It was last-minute, and it was South Africa versus New Zealand, and New Zealand were three points behind, and they had a penalty, and I said, 'Oh, you should have kicked the goal'. They said, 'No, they kicked to the corner'."

He continued, "And I said, 'Well, that's a risk'. And the commentator said, 'Oh, the only risk in life is never to take a risk'.

"It felt like he was talking to me, and I thought I didn't come into this job to do the same thing year on year on year. So I thought, it's a nice time to just step off the cliff and see what else is out there."

The actor, who originally played DS Gavin Troy alongside John Nettles' Detective Tom Barnaby in the popular ITV series, is gearing up to portray DCI Tom Barnaby in a new stage rendition of the show.

When speaking about his return, Daniel beamed: "It's really exciting, really exciting. It's lovely to come back. I never thought that I would revisit this amazing, weird, wonderful, strange, old world again, but, but yeah, it's lovely to be embarking on a tour and bringing it to the stage.

"It's the original episode, The Killings of Badgers Drift. It's very faithful to that original, and that kind of the actuality that you have in the television series. It lends itself beautifully to the stage."

BBC presenter Jon Kay then questioned the actor on his "big promotion" and stepping into the role previously held by John Nettles.

"It's quite daunting, actually," Daniel admitted. "It's amazing. It's really wonderful.

"John is such a lovely man, and it was such an important part of my early career, and he said it himself. He said, 'I learned at the feet of the master,' and actually, I did.

"He was amazing, and I stood next to him for what, seven years, so a lot of that has rubbed off, I hope."

BBC Breakfast airs daily at 6am on BBC One.